Randy Smith purchased the former Campbell Payne building on Thurman Avenue last November, and plans to open The Craft Crucible doors this fall.

In 2008, Randy Smith left the corporate world, where he worked as a mechanical engineer, to build beautiful handcrafted wooden furniture and the Kashiwa Woodworking brand. Flash forward eight years, and Smith is about to open the doors to a new Midtown-based workspace and lumber shop: The Craft Crucible.

Between June 2nd - 4th, hundreds of local business professionals gathered downtown at the Riverviews Artspace to celebrate the city's first Lynchburg Innovation Week. The 3-day event featured a wide range of learning and networking opportunities. Hosted by the Lynchburg Economic Development Authority, Lynchburg Innovation Week was organized by Cities Reimagined, which develops innovative economic development strategies and programming.

Lynchburg, Virginia has two Commonwealth of Virginia Enterprise Zones: #2 and #46. These zones span 4,200 acres of commerical property in Lynchburg. The program is managed by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, with the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development serving as the local zone administrator.